scholarly journals Intra-specific differences in cognition: bumblebee queens learn better than workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 20210280
Author(s):  
Felicity Muth

Species’ cognitive traits are shaped by their ecology, and even within a species, cognition can reflect the behavioural requirements of individuals with different roles. Social insects have a number of discrete roles (castes) within a colony and thus offer a useful system to determine how ecological requirements shape cognition. Bumblebee queens are a critical point in the lifecycle of their colony, since its future success is reliant on a single individual's ability to learn about floral stimuli while finding a suitable nest site; thus, one might expect particularly adept learning capabilities at this stage. I compared wild Bombus vosnesenskii queens and workers on their ability to learn a colour association and found that queens performed better than workers. In addition, queens of another species, B. insularis, a cuckoo species with a different lifecycle but similar requirements at this stage, performed equally well as the non-parasitic queens. To control for differences in foraging experience, I then repeated this comparison with laboratory-based B. impatiens and found that unmated queens performed better than workers. These results add to the body of work on how ecology shapes cognition and opens the door to further research in comparative cognition using wild bees.

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Harmon-Threatt

Nest site availability and quality are important for maintaining robust populations and communities of wild bees. However, for most species, nesting traits and nest site conditions are poorly known, limiting both our understanding of basic ecology for bee species and conservation efforts. Additionally, many of the threats commonly associated with reducing bee populations have effects that can extend into nests but are largely unstudied. In general, threats such as habitat disturbances and climate change likely affect nest site availability and nest site conditions, which in turn affect nest initiation, growth, development, and overwintering success of bees. To facilitate a better understanding of how these and other threats may affect nesting bees, in this review, I quantify key nesting traits and environmental conditions and then consider how these traits may intersect with observed and anticipated changes in nesting conditions experienced by wild bees. These data suggest that the effects of common threats to bees through nesting may strongly influence their survival and persistence but are vastly understudied. Increasing research into nesting biology and incorporating nesting information into conservation efforts may help improve conservation of this declining but critical group.


Author(s):  
V. Purushothaman ◽  
K. Vinoth Kumar ◽  
Sabari Girish Ambat ◽  
R. Venkataswami

Abstract Background Total brachial plexus palsy (TBPP) accounts for nearly 50% of all brachial plexus injuries. Since achieving a good functional hand was almost impossible, the aim was settled to get a good shoulder and elbow function. It was Gu, who popularized the concept of utilizing contralateral C7 (CC7) with vascularized ulnar nerve graft (VUNG) to get some hand function. We have modified it to suit our patients by conducting it as a single-stage procedure, thereby trying to get a functional upper limb. Methods From 2009 to 2014, we had 20 TBPP patients. We feel nerve reconstruction is always better than any other salvage procedure, including free muscle transfer. We modified Gu's concept and present our concept of total nerve reconstruction as “ALL IN ONE OR (W)HOLE IN ONE REPAIR.” Results All patients able to move their reconstructed limbs independently or with the help of contralateral limbs. Three patients developed hook grip and one patient was able to incorporate limbs to do bimanual jobs. One important observation is that all the reconstructed limbs regain the bulk, and to a certain extent, the attitude and appearance looks normal, as patients no longer hide it or hang it in a sling. Conclusion Adult brachial plexus injury itself is a devastating injury affecting young males. By doing this procedure, the affected limb is not dissociated from the rest of the body and rehabilitation can be aimed to get a supportive limb.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 20140306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Diez ◽  
Philippe Lejeune ◽  
Claire Detrain

Sociality increases exposure to pathogens. Therefore, social insects have developed a wide range of behavioural defences, known as ‘social immunity’. However, the benefits of these behaviours in terms of colony survival have been scarcely investigated. We tested the survival advantage of prophylaxis, i.e. corpse removal, in ants. Over 50 days, we compared the survival of ants in colonies that were free to remove corpses with those that were restricted in their corpse removal. From Day 8 onwards, the survival of adult workers was significantly higher in colonies that were allowed to remove corpses normally. Overall, larvae survived better than adults, but were slightly affected by the presence of corpses in the nest. When removal was restricted, ants removed as many corpses as they could and moved the remaining corpses away from brood, typically to the nest corners. These results show the importance of nest maintenance and prophylactic behaviour in social insects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xiaoyi Guo ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Qun Lu ◽  
Aiyan Du ◽  
Yinghua Cai ◽  
...  

Dry weight is the normal weight of hemodialysis patients after hemodialysis. If the amount of water in diabetes is too much (during hemodialysis), the patient will experience hypotension and shock symptoms. Therefore, the correct assessment of the patient’s dry weight is clinically important. These methods all rely on professional instruments and technicians, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive. To avoid this limitation, we hope to use machine learning methods on patients. This study collected demographic and anthropometric data of 476 hemodialysis patients, including age, gender, blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), years of dialysis (YD), and heart rate (HR). We propose a Sparse Laplacian regularized Random Vector Functional Link (SLapRVFL) neural network model on the basis of predecessors. When we evaluate the prediction performance of the model, we fully compare SLapRVFL with the Body Composition Monitor (BCM) instrument and other models. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of SLapRVFL is 1.3136, which is better than other methods. The SLapRVFL neural network model could be a viable alternative of dry weight assessment.


Author(s):  
Brian H. Bornstein ◽  
Jeffrey S. Neuschatz

The deception detection method Münsterberg advocates is grounded on principles of association. Although this approach derives partially from a Freudian view of the unconscious, it is not terribly dissimilar to more modern, physiologically based lie detection methods. In recent years, deception detection has become a major focus within psychology and law. Research shows that humans’ ability to detect deception is limited but, summarizing across the body of studies, slightly better than chance. However, most police investigators believe they can detect when suspects are lying. This chapter covers the reliability of modern deception detection techniques with the exception of the polygraph, which is covered in the next chapter.


Author(s):  
Michelle Powell

LGBTQ+ subjects have long been rendered invisible in school curricula. More recently, however, teachers, students, and administrators have recognized the need to remedy this erasure and many are making LGBTQ+ visibility a curricular imperative. In this chapter, the author explores a specific tactic that is often used to increase LGBTQ+ visibility and increase awareness of LGBTQ+ issues—the guest speaker. The body of the chapter begins with a brief discussion of the ways in which the guest speaker can be a useful tool. Most of the existing literature on the use of guest speakers, however, takes for granted that the technique is universally positive and empowering. Therefore, in the second portion of the chapter the author will elaborate several critiques. Finally, she will discuss several models that can serve to increase knowledge about LGBTQ+ topics and increase LGBTQ+ visibility, and which work as well as or better than the guest speaker model.


Author(s):  
A M Petchey

To satisfy stringent welfare criteria a farrowing pen must meet the sows’ needs for freedom of movement and allow her to exhibit most normal behaviours.Pens must be designed which provide adequate space for the loose housed farrowing sow but which have additional features to promote high standards of pig care. The sow should not be left to farrow indiscriminately within the pen but must be provided with an enriched environment to satisfy both her needs and those of the piglets. Within the pen the sow requires a suitable nest site and material to manipulate immediately pre-farrowing. These features can only be provided when it becomes known what the sows’ find desirable. In previous work it was shown that sows’ preferred to build their nests and farrow within a cubicle rather than in a corner or against a straight but open wall and that sows exhibit intensive nest building activity in the 14 hours before farrowing. In this trial the objective was to determine the farrowing sows’ response to an arrangement of parallel walls spaced 0.55, 0.95 and 1.35 m apart. The rationale behind the measurements was that they approximated to the body width, height and length of a generalised sow. Information about the sows’ response to such a wall arrangement would be useful if pens with walk-through nests were being designed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (05) ◽  
pp. 2050077
Author(s):  
Najam Muhammad Amin ◽  
Lianfeng Shen ◽  
Danish Kaleem ◽  
Zhi-Gong Wang ◽  
Keping Wang ◽  
...  

An active quasi-circulator (AQC) integrated circuit is designed and fabricated in a 0.18-[Formula: see text]m CMOS process. The proposed design is based on a parallel combination of a common-source (CS) stage and a combined common-drain (CD) and common-gate (CG) topology. Scattering matrix of the core AQC circuit is derived considering MOSFET’s secondary effects, particularly the body effect as well as output loading effects. Measurements of the quasi-circulator reveal an insertion loss of [Formula: see text] dB between transmitter-to-antenna ports ([Formula: see text]) and of [Formula: see text] dB between antenna-to-receiver ports ([Formula: see text]), within a frequency band of 2.2–4.6 GHz. The isolation between the transmitter and the receiver ports ([Formula: see text]) is better than 24 dB with a maximum value of 29.5[Formula: see text]dB @ 3.6[Formula: see text]GHz. The power dissipation of the proposed AQC is 40[Formula: see text]mW and it covers an active chip area of 0.677[Formula: see text]mm2.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian M. Angel-Fernandez ◽  
Andrea Bonarini

Abstract Robots should be able to represent emotional states to interact with people as social agents. There are cases where robots cannot have bio-inspired bodies, for instance because the task to be performed requires a special shape, as in the case of home cleaners, package carriers, and many others. In these cases, emotional states have to be represented by exploiting movements of the body. In this paper, we present a set of case studies aimed at identifying specific values to convey emotion trough changes in linear and angular velocities, which might be applied on different non-anthropomorphic bodies. This work originates from some of the most considered emotion expression theories and from emotion coding for people. We show that people can recognize some emotional expressions better than others, and we propose some directions to express emotions exploiting only bio-neutral movement.


Author(s):  
Yusuf Nasirudin ◽  
Dewa Putu Gde Purwa Samatra ◽  
Wahyuddin ◽  
Susy Purnawati ◽  
Ni Made Linawati ◽  
...  

In the game of futsal, work of postural muscle balance needed to maintain the stability of the body for receiving the pass and put the ball into the other team's goal at the time of attack, changing the direction of movement quickly when returning to their respective positions and avoid of back disorder. This research is a form of experimental research that will test the effectiveness of the provision of trunk balance exercise is better than the strengthening of back exercises to improve muscle work balance of erector spine on futsal beginner players, in this study sample will be divided into two groups, the first group will be given trunk balance exercise to improve balance of erectorspine muscles work in futsal begginer players, the second group will be given back strengthening exercise to improve balance of erectorspine muscles work in futsal begginer players.This study was conducted for 6 weeks and the intervention performed 18 times during the study period. Samples measured by surface electromyography to measure work of right and left erector muscle by calculating the proportion of the work on the muscle, the measurement is performed at before the intervention and then intervention in accordance with the grouping which has been divided and then after completion of the intervention, the samples will be re-measured to obtain the value of the intervention.The results of the first group who has been given of trunk balance exercise shows the average value of the before treatment (83.82 ± 2.94) % and the mean value of the after treatment (96.74 ± 2.39) %, and in the second group who has been given strengthening back exercise shows the mean value of the before treatment (88.29 ± 1.89) % and the mean value after treatment (95.91 ± 1.75) %, with the probability value of both groups is 0.000 (p <0.05), and can be expressed there is a significant difference between both groups. In the fourth hypothesis test conducted comparative results of both groups, using independent samples t-test using mean value of the first and second groups, in the first group (12.92 ± 2.94) %, and the second group (7.61 ± 2.12) %, with a probability value 0.000 (p<0.05) and can be expressed in statistical analysis is no significant difference between both treatments were carried out and that means, giving trunk balance exercise is better than back strengthening exercise to improve balance of erector spine muscles work on futsal beginner players.


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